Evidence supporting the use of: Periwinkle (unspecified)
For the health condition: Leukemia

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 4

Periwinkle refers to plants in the genus Catharanthus, most notably Catharanthus roseus (Madagascar periwinkle). The use of this plant to support or treat leukemia has a strong basis in scientific evidence. In the 1950s, researchers isolated two alkaloids from this plant—vincristine and vinblastine—that exhibited potent antineoplastic (anticancer) effects. These compounds disrupt microtubule formation in cells, thereby inhibiting cell division. Vincristine, in particular, has become a standard chemotherapeutic agent for treating various types of leukemia, especially acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children and adults. Its efficacy and safety profile have been extensively studied, and it is included in treatment protocols globally. However, it is important to note that the whole plant or crude extracts are not used clinically; only the purified and precisely dosed alkaloids are administered under strict medical supervision due to their toxicity and narrow therapeutic window. While the traditional use of periwinkle for diabetes and other ailments predates these discoveries, its application in leukemia is rooted in modern pharmacology and rigorous clinical research, not in folk medicine. Therefore, the use of periwinkle-derived compounds for leukemia is scientifically validated, with substantial evidence from laboratory, clinical, and pharmacological studies.

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